Protesters Arrested At Senator Collins’ Bangor Office

Five people were arrested Monday inside Senator Collins' Bangor office as they protested her support of a controversial tax bill.

Sergeant Wade Betters says Bangor Police got a call from an official with the Department of Homeland Security at around 6:00 Monday evening. The official reported that six people, involved in a protest, had moved inside the Senator's office and were refusing to leave. U.S. Senator Collins' office is in the Margaret Chase Smith Federal Building on Harlow Street. The official asked that the protesters be removed and arrested, if necessary.

Police responded and Betters says Sergeant Myron Warner read a dispersal order to the group, cautioning them that, if they didn't leave, they would be arrested. One person decided to leave at this point, but the other five remained. They were arrested without incident and taken to the Penobscot County Jail. 33-year-old Sarah Bigney of Hallowell, 39-year-old Nicholas Paquet of Benton, 47-year-old Tina Davidson of Portland, 66-year-old James Betts of Winthrop, and 37-year-old Erin Oberon of Old Town are all charged with criminal trespass.

The five were part of a demonstration involving about 70 people who were voicing their concerns over Collins' support of a controversial tax plan. Marie Follayttar Smith, Co-Leader of Mainers for Accountable Leadership, said in a media release that the protests are not over. "We will show up, rise up, and speak out whenever we can."